‘APNGO Assn has amiable ties with State govt’

PNS|Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers’ (APNGO) Association State president Bandi Srinivasa Rao has said that his association is working with the State government in a friendly manner even though the government is not resolving the employees’ problems. He said his association will point out the problems at the appropriate time. After consultation with the Joint Action Committee (JAC), he said a plan of action would be decided regarding the future course of agitations.

Bandi Srinivasa Rao addressed reporters at the NGO Home at Gandhinagar in Vijayawada on Friday. “Though we have a soft spot for the State government, the association will not tolerate any delay in solving the employees’ long-pending problems. The government should pay salaries on the first day of every month, fulfil all pending assurances and implement retirement benefits,” he added.

He further said that after holding discussions with IAS officers and a group of ministers, the State government had assured them of disbursing the DA arrears, GPF and medical reimbursement. However, nothing happened even after a year. GPF, APGLI and medical reimbursement bills to the tune of around Rs.1,600 crore are yet to be paid, he said.

“We are not against implementing welfare schemes in the State. But at the same time, the government should resolve our problems and financial issues, too.

As per the IAS officers’ assurance, DA and GPF arrears should have been credited to the bank accounts by April. Later, it was postponed to July. It’s December now and none of the problems has been resolved,” he said.

Five DAs are still pending, so are the issues regarding the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). We had urged the State government to release Rs.300 crore per month to pay arrears, but it was also not done, he said.Bandi further said that the disbursement of the employees’ salaries, too, was delayed and most of the employees were facing severe financial problems. “Milk vendors, vegetable vendors and kirana merchants are pressuring the employees to pay the dues. However, the State government credits salaries in a phased manner. The whole situation has taken a toll on the self-esteem of the employees,” he pointed out.

Responding to the media’s questions, he said that APNGO was not a paper association. It had a long history and the leaders would speak out at the appropriate time. Even Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was not responding to the employees’ problems. He urged the CM to consider the issues as soon as possible. “We are not surrendering to the State government. We have an amicable relationship with the State government. If anyone feels it is surrendering, we can’t do anything. APNGO Association will submit a time-bound programme before the government.

After conducting a discussion with the APJAC, we will take a decision on agitation,” he added.Meanwhile, Bandi requested the State government for an exemption for the field staff from face recognition attendance. Also, raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 for Public Sector employees with effect from January 1, 2021, give a notional increment to the gram/ward sachivalayam employees and provide job security to the electrical employees, he demanded.Association general secretary KV Siva Reddy, leaders Md Iqbal, Vidyasagar and others were present.